leading chemical company released a set of
chemical hazard and risk-assessment principles
designed to provide “obtainable, high-level
benchmarks” for fixing federal programs so they produce
more scientifically sound and timely chemical
assessments. The guidelines are the culmination of ACC's
efforts to improve the quality of federal chemical risk and
hazard assessments since the National Academy of
Sciences (NAS) report on EPA's flawed formaldehyde
assessment three years ago. The principles are also
consistent with the Obama Administration's.
In 1980s, the U.S. environmental Protection agency
(EPA) created the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)
to facilitate the development and dissemination of risk
assessments for chemicals. This platform was intended as
a tool to support and guide consistent risk management
decisions. However, the IRIS program must be overhauled
to improve its scientific rigor if it wants to be credible and
an asset to risk managers. In fact, the naS and other
expert panels frequently criticize IRIS assessments for their
poor scientific quality – a result of the IRIS's reliance on
overly conservative default assumptions and outdated
scientific information. This results in IRIS safe levels that
are actually below naturally occurring background levels.
Formaldehyde, one of the simplest carbohydrate
molecules, is a commercially valuable common building
block compound made of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. It
is also abundant in nature. All organic life forms
manufacture formaldehyde in varying amounts through
metabolic processes. It is a food source for simple life
forms, such as bacteria, and it does not percolate in the
environment, because it is either metabolized in the body
or broken down by sunlight. Formaldehyde has applications
which are diverse and far-reaching – as an anti-bacterial
agent, preservative and highly versatile industrial building
block. As the basis of a wide range of materials,
formaldehyde-based technologies are an important part of
the US economy. Formaldehyde is a part of the glue that
holds together important construction materials, such as
particle board and plywood, without which modern, safe,
affordable home construction would be impossible. As
research has shown the levels of formaldehyde to which
most people are exposed are not high enough to cause
adverse health effects. The World Health Organization
(WHO) considers the carcinogenic risk of formaldehyde,
when estimated from animal data, to be uncertain. This is
due to the chemical's nonlinear dose response curve,

CHEMICAL BUSINESS WEEKLY

showing a disproportionately low risk at low
concentrations. Further, WHO reports that humans produce
formaldehyde in their bodies and exhale it at
concentrations of up to a few parts per billion (ppb). The
IRIS-proposed cancer risk value of 0.008 ppb would set a
cancer risk value that is significantly below the levels that
naturally occur in the environment. EPA's proposed cancer
risk value would suggest that human breath poses an
unacceptable risk of cancer. Formaldehyde is extensively
regulated, and mandatory government standards have
been established to enable the safe production, storage,
handling and use of this important building block chemical.
Additionally, industry has voluntarily adopted product
emission standards and developed low-emitting resins,
contributing to a significant decline of indoor formaldehyde
emissions in recent years.
Formaldehyde was administered daily in drinking
water to Wistar rats (70/sex/dose) for up to 24 months.
Mean body weights of the high-dose group were decreased
in males from week 1 and in females from week 24
through termination. Food intake was significantly
decreased in all high-dose males with females showing a
similar but less consistent decrease in food intake. A 40%
decrease in drinking water intake was reported in all highdose animals while those rats receiving the middle dose
showed a slight but generally insignificant decrease in
liquid intake.
In its press release on the report, the NAS
determined that the EPA's draft assessment was “not
prepared in a logically consistent fashion, lacks clear links
to an underlying conceptual framework, and does not
sufficiently document methods and criteria used to identify
evidence for selecting and evaluating studies.”
The oral Reference Dose (RfD) is based on the
assumption that thresholds exist for certain toxic effects
such as cellular necrosis. It is expressed in units of
mg/kg-day. In general, the RfD is an estimate (with
uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a
daily exposure to the human population (including sensitive
subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk
of deleterious effects during a lifetime. RfDs can also be
derived for the noncarcinogenic health effects of
substances that are also carcinogens. Therefore, it is
essential to refer to other sources of information
concerning the carcinogenicity of this substance. The U.S.
EPA has evaluated this substance for potential human
carcinogenicity.

the Asia/Pacific market and China, in
particular,” said Daniel Meyer, who heads

process, we aim to reshape our portfolio

the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties

ACITIVITY AT MAIN

(CAS) Business Unit at Bayer

FACILITY IN AUSTRALIA

MaterialScience. “We are determined to
continue to grow here in harmony with the

CHEMICAL BUSINESS WEEKLY

business goals and objectives globally,''

and maintain profitability in our core
businesses that will benefit all

Agricultural chemical firm Nufarm

stakeholders,'' he added. Clariant offers a

(Melbourne) announced on 15 April that,

diverse portfolio of standard and custom

15

CHEMICAL NEWS
colour and additive products with a

The plant is located near excellent

bolstered its Organic Light Emitting Diodes

production of more than 10,000 colour

infrastructure and is well-positioned

(OLED) electronic display technology and

matches. It has more than 50

geographically to serve the growing Indian

launch a new development platform with a

manufacturing plants of masterbatches

market as well as support the emerging

strong Asian foothold. With Plextronics,

around the world. Clariant Chemicals

growth of the TempRite CPVC business in

Solvay is expanding its know-how in

(India) has production facilities for

South Asia, the Middle East and East

emerging applications such as OLED TV

manufacturing textile chemicals, paper

Africa. "Our investment in India is a major

screens, OLED lighting and in lithium-ion

specialities and emulsion products at

step forward for our customers based in

batteries. OLED technology uses stacked

Roha, Maharashtra. Clariant also

the region," explains Manoj Dhar, head of

layers of organic compounds that emit

produces leather processing chemicals,

TempRite Engineered Polymers in South

light when submitted to an electric

industrial and consumer specialities,

Asia. "With the projected growth of our

current. It boosts luminance efficiency and

additives and pigments.

FlowGuard® hot and cold plumbing

ultimately enables bendable displays as it

system products, this plant will be

reduces their thickness and weight. As

instrumental in enabling us to better meet

part of its expansion into the rapidly-

the growing demands in the market."

growing OLED market, Solvay is setting up

START OPERATIONS IN

"Lubrizol remains committed to supplying

a new electronics laboratory at its

2015

our customers and manufacturing

research center at Ewha Woman's

partners with quality piping solution

University in Seoul City, South Korea. The

products for their continued global

lab will bring its advanced solutions closer

growth," states John Nunnari, global

to market and speed up joint development

general manager of TempRite Engineered

activities with customers as well as with

Polymers. "Utilizing the most advanced

existing and potential partners. “The

compounding technology developed in the

acquisition of Plextronics is an important

U.S., the India compounding plant is

milestone in growing our OLED

expected to provide us with a strong,

capabilities,” said Bill Chen, General

reliable manufacturing base for India and

Manager of Solvay OLED incubator.

other nearby markets." A groundbreaking

“Solvay's own OLED know-how will be

ceremony at the Dahej site on April 4 was

reinforced thanks to Plextronics'

attended by Eric Schnur, president of

complementary technologies and

Lubrizol Advanced Materials; John

dedicated staff. With the creation of the

Nunnari, global general manager of

Solvay OLED Incubator, we aim to evolve

TempRite Engineered Polymers; Timothy

into a new business and strengthen our

Madden, managing director of Lubrizol

presence in Asia, mainly in South Korea.”

Advanced Materials, South Asia; and

The completion of the transaction comes

various other members of the Lubrizol

two weeks after the U.S. bankruptcy court

India management team.

in Delaware approved Solvay's offer for

LUBRIZOL'S CPVC
PLANT IN DAHEJ TO

The Lubrizol Corporation announces the
groundbreaking for a new TempRite
chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC)
compounding plant in Dahej, India.
Construction of this plant is an integral
component of the company's previously
announced $400 million global
expansion of its resin and compounding
manufacturing capacity. Further
solidifying Lubrizol's commitment to the
Indian market, investment in this new
plant marks Lubrizol as the first major
global producer of CPVC to establish
operations in India. The estimated
investment in the new plant is more than
$50 million U.S., and it will have the
capacity to produce approximately
55,000 metric tons of compounds
annually. The plant will be strategically
located in the Gujarat Industrial

SOLVAY LAUNCHES

Development Corporation (GIDC), which

NEW DEVELOPMENT

is one of the largest chemical parks in
the country. Many of the raw materials
required for Lubrizol's specialty chemical
product portfolio are produced in GIDC.
16

Plextronics, a startup that was founded in
2002. Solvay has been a longtime

PLATFORM IN ASIA

investor in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaniabased company.

With the completion of the acquisition of
U.S.-based Plextronics Inc. Solvay has

CHEMICAL BUSINESS WEEKLY

CHEMICAL ARTICLE
EXPANDING PRODUCTION OF SPECIALTY CHEMICALS IN CHINA

V

ertellus Specialties Inc, the world's
largest producer of pyridine,
picolines and pyridine derivatives,
has entered into a joint venture with
Weifang Green Olive Chemical Co., Ltd.
(Green Olive). The joint venture, named
Vertellus Specialty Chemicals (Weifang) Co
Ltd will significantly expand Vertellus
capacity of pyridine and picolines in China.
Vertellus will own the majority of the
outstanding equity of the joint venture and
will leverage its industry-leading technology
to begin production of pyridine and
picolines at Green Olive's facility in
Weifang, China. The Weifang facility has a
name plate annual capacity of 10,000
metric tons of pyridine and picolines with
the opportunity for further expansion.
Vertellus expects the facility to be fully
operational during the summer of 2013.
"Vertellus is excited about the
opportunity to partner with Green Olive to
bring this state-of-the-art facility online to
support the growth of China's agricultural
chemicals industry," says Rich Preziotti ,
CEO of Vertellus Specialties Inc. "The
Weifang facility in the Shandong Province
has been idle since it was built in 2011.
We're pleased to be able to utilize this
existing structure to enhance our ability to
serve the agricultural chemicals industry
within China."
Vertellus will manage the operations
of the facility and be responsible for
marketing the products manufactured by
this joint venture.The company maintains
other facilities in China, the U.K., Belgium
and India. Vertellus also has six U.S.
locations including its headquarters in
Indianapolis.
Vertellus is a specialty chemicals
company focused on the manufacture of
ingredients used in pharmaceuticals,
personal care, nutrition, agriculture, and a
host of other market areas affected by
trends favoring "green" technologies and
chemistries. Vertellus is the #1 global
producer of pyridine and picolines,
specialty pyridine derivatives, DEET, castor
oil derivatives and systems, and citrate
polymer additives and systems, and a
world leader in Vitamin B-3. Vertellus
benefits from a technically advanced global
manufacturing base and has approximately
800 employees. Vertellus is headquartered
in Indianapolis, Indiana.

CHEMICAL BUSINESS WEEKLY

ChemPoint, the leading technologyenabled distributor of specialty and fine
chemicals, today announced that it has
expanded its partnership with PennAKem
LLC, the global preeminent supplier of
furfural and furan derivatives. Effective
immediately, ChemPoint will represent the
Eco Methyl Tetrahydrofuran (EcoMeTHF®)
product line in North America, providing
customers with marketing, sales, order
fulfillment, and technical support. Other
PennAKem products distributed by ChemPoint
include specialty furans and the QuaCorr®
line of furfuryl alcohol based resins.
PennAKem offers an extensive
portfolio of furfural and furan based
chemistries, based on bio-renewable sources
that would otherwise go to waste.
PennAKem's EcoMeTHF® is used in the
industrial chemical, pharmaceutical, and
lithium battery markets, among others, and
recognized for its unique stability, solvency
and solubility.
“PennAKem is excited about working
with ChemPoint for the supply of EcoMeTHF®
in North America and this expanded
agreement is a natural extension of a
successful relationship; ChemPoint's
extensive market knowledge, technical
expertise, and flexible service model will help
PennAKem continue providing our customers
with the highest standard of service and
support," said Steve Prescott, Sales
Manager, PennAKem. "We are excited about
the increased focus they will provide to
EcoMeTHF® across a broad spectrum of
applications."
“This growth in our partnership is a
testament to the success of ChemPoint's
unique business model, and allows us to
offer innovative and sustainable solutions to
our customers,” commented Rick Hoener,
ChemPoint Business Director. “Extending our
partnership with PennAKem presents a great
opportunity to both ChemPoint and our valued
customers; we look forward to the continued
evolution of our relationship.”
Effective immediately, ChemPoint will begin
to proactively contact customers to make
them aware of the product portfolio and
services provided by PennAKem.
As the leading technology-driven
distributor of specialty and fine chemicals in
EMEA, and North America, ChemPoint.com
engages in exclusive product line
relationships with premier manufacturers.

From its European and North American
interaction centers, ChemPoint
(www.chempoint.com) provides its partners
with marketing, sales, customer service, and
order fulfillment solutions for their distinctive
business and market needs. ChemPoint is a
Univar company. With a network of more
than 260 distribution facilities globally,
Univar is a world leader in chemical
distribution.
From its modern manufacturing
facility in Memphis, Tennessee, PennAKem
creates value-added chemical intermediates
and solvents based on renewable resources.
With over 60 years of experience PennAKem
develops and manufactures its line of fine
and specialty chemicals to a wide range of
industries including pharmaceutical,
agricultural, and petrochemical.
MONITORING ETHYLENE GLYCOL
CONTINUOUSLY AND AUTOMATICALLY :
ATAGO's newest refractometer, the CM780N-EG is the first in-process refractometer
model that is factory-programmed with
ethylene glycol freezing point and
concentration scales. This innovative
product promises to streamline glycol
monitoring operations worldwide.
Despite a wide variety of applications,
more than half of all ethylene glycol (EG)
produced in the world goes to use as a heat
transfer fluid of sorts. EG is most familiar to
us as the antifreeze in our automobiles.
Frequently purchased pre-mixed 50:50 with
water, it offers a nominal range of heat and
cold protection for most climates. Drivers in
colder climates will often mix up a richer
ratio (60:40, or even 70:30) to maintain a
very low freeze point. Most HVAC
technicians know their way around EG as
one the most popular additives to chiller
systems.
The most prevalent way to measure
EG is via a refractometer, which measures
the refraction (bending) of light rays through
a given sample via a prism. The refraction is
then translated into concentration or
predicted freeze-point values for EG. Most
glycol refractometers are simple hand-held
unit, which are great to use as a field tester
or for monitoring a chiller onboard a ship.
However, automakers, fleet
managers, and stationary chiller operators
often go through such a large volume of
glycol that it is much more practical to mix
on-site. Many of these clients automate

17

CHEMICAL ARTICLE
readings and even mixing operations
through the use of an in-process
refractometer that measures continuously.
This is a standard procedure for many
metal shops where a single sump
administers cutting oil to multiple tooling
machines, or for a factory concerned with
monitoring/diverting waste water. However,
this is the first time that a unit bespoke for
EG is available, straight out of the factory.
Chris Frillmann, Product Specialist at Davis
Instruments, cites that clients with indoor
systems are generally more concerned with
obtaining a concentration/mix ratio, and
those with outdoor loops (such as cooling
towers) need to focus more about
maintaining a sufficiently low freeze point.
Most companies can't spare the personnel
to run around, checking on EG time and
again every day. Solutions open to the
atmosphere can be subject to degradation,
settling, and contamination, making more
frequent monitoring a priority.
In-line refractometers can seem like
expensive and intimidating investments.
Indeed, many models are very precise and
advanced to meet demanding or unique
applications. For many operators these 2or 3-piece instruments are a bit “overqualified” for very basic concentration
measurements, and usually carry an “overqualified” price tag to match. An instrument
to fill this niche must be compact, easy to
use, and most of all, cost-efficient.
ATAGO's new CM-780N-EG
addresses this with simple, seamless EG
measurements. One-piece construction and
sanitary 2” tri-clamp fittings keep
installation swift and uncomplicated. It
displays both concentration (up to 90% by
volume) and freeze point (down to -50
Celsius) to keep things running smoothly.
The unit is accurate to 0.4%, or 1°C –
identical to the ATAGO “Pocket” PAL-91S,
for those who also use handheld
refractometers and wish to maintain
continuity. Connecting the CM-780N EG to a
PLC (via 4-20mA) can automate processes
and solve problems before they become
problems, so plant managers and engineers
can focus on other, more pressing issues.
Since 1940, ATAGO has been the
worldwide trusted brand for refractometers
of all shapes, sizes and applications. The
vast product line includes the “RX”
laboratory models, pocket-size digital “PAL”
units, and “CM” series of 1-piece, compact
and versatile in-line devices specifically

18

tailored to customers interested in simple
concentration monitoring and automation,
often at less than half the price of traditional
in-process unit.
LSB Industries, Inc today announced
that its Pryor, Oklahoma chemical facility
Pryor Facility has commenced operations at
its principal ammonia plant at near design
rates. On November 21, 2012 the Company
announced that the Pryor Facility had stopped
production to install a replacement ammonia
converter and to perform unplanned
maintenance. That work has been
successfully completed. During the outage,
with the support of third party professionals,
the Pryor Facility also undertook extensive
programs to review and update operating
procedures, to improve mechanical integrity
and reliability, and to test soundness of
piping and equipment. The outage at the
Pryor Facility was longer than originally
anticipated due to mechanical issues which
arose after initial start-up requiring repairs,
along with calibration of new control
equipment. LSB is a manufacturing and
marketing company. LSB's principal business
activities consist of the manufacture and sale
of commercial and residential climate control
products, such as geothermal and water
source heat pumps, hydronic fan coils and
modular geothermal chillers, and large
custom air handlers; and the manufacture
and sale of chemical products for the
agricultural, mining, and industrial markets.
UPGRADATION OF EPC SERVICES :
International Alliance Group (IAG) announced
today it has been selected by Uintah
Partners, LLC to provide engineering,
procurement and construction services for
the Uintah Gateway Project to be built in
Uintah County, Utah. Phase 1 of the project,
estimated at approximately $900 million, will
include a 40,000 barrel per day Upgrading
Facility to process Uinta Basin Black and
Yellow Wax Crudes to produce a slate of
pipeline quality synthetic crudes and blend
stocks. IAG President Paul Switzer stated,
“We are delighted to be supporting Uintah
Partners and their strategic vision for this
important project in Utah. This project will be
built using world-class technology to access
new domestic energy resources, and we are
leveraging our combined technology and
project delivery expertise to help Uintah make
it a success.” IAG headquartered in Houston
is a subsidiary of Triten Corporation and
specializes in technology-driven capital
project development and execution for the oil,

gas, petrochemical and energy related
industries.
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS PRODUCTION PLANT :
The chemical company Oxea has
mechanically completed its new carboxylic
acids plant in Oberhausen, Germany. After a
construction period of fifteen months, work
is now underway to prepare for the start of
operations. Oxea expects the new state-ofthe-art plant to go on stream soon and be
able to manufacture products to
specification in short. Once commissioned,
the new facility will boost Oxea's global
carboxylic acids production capacity by
another 40%. The plant, named “Carboxylic
Acids 3”, is Oxea's fifth production plant for
carboxylic acids world-wide.
“The growing global demand for
synthetic fatty acids in segments such as
energy-efficient lubricant esters and
specialty phthalate-free plasticizers is the
main driver behind our ongoing capacity
increases. Our new plant will be
instrumental in helping Oxea meet this rising
demand. It further strengthens our position
as the global leader and the supplier of the
broadest carboxylic acids product portfolio
overall,” commented Miguel Mantas,
responsible for Sales and Marketing within
Oxea's Executive Board. “The completion of
our latest plant marks another great
milestone for Oxea. We made full use of our
proprietary advanced technology and have
applied our profound experience derived
from our carboxylic acids plants at
Oberhausen, Marl, and Bay City to the
planning and construction of our new facility.
In line with Oxea's sustainability program,
we successfully implemented additional
measures at our new plant to further
optimize heat recovery, the use of energy
and to reduce overall waste,“ said Dr.
Martina Flöel, spokesperson for the Oxea
Executive Board and responsible for
Operations and Technology. Oxea is a global
manufacturer of oxo intermediates and oxo
derivatives, such as alcohols, polyols,
carboxylic acids, specialty esters, and
amines. These products are used for the
production of high-quality coatings,
lubricants, cosmetics and pharmaceutical
products, flavorings and fragrances, printing
inks and plastics. In 2012, Oxea generated
revenue of about EUR 1.5 billion with its
1,406 employees in Europe, the Americas
and Asia.

ransplace, a leading provider of
transportation management
services and logistics
technology, today announced that Zep
Inc. has selected Transplace as its
third party logistics (3PL) provider to
efficiently manage all domestic and
international transportation activities.
Transplace will employ its software-asa-service (SaaS) Transportation
Management System (TMS) to increase
visibility across all business units and
improve operational efficiency. “We
were looking for a best-in-class TMS
vendor like Transplace to enable
enhanced collaboration across all
business units, gain a more complete
view of our supply chain activities and
drive cost savings,” said Jeff Fleck,
chief supply chain officer, Zep, Inc.
“Transplace has the breadth of
knowledge, technology and expertise in
the chemical and commercial spaces
that will help us achieve our near and
long-term goals.” Since 1937, Zep Inc.
has been a leading producer and
marketer of a wide range of highefficacy maintenance and cleaning
solutions for commercial, industrial,
institutional and consumer endmarkets, with operations across North
America, Western Europe and China.
The company previously operated under
a decentralized model, making
communication across its supply chain
a challenge. Zep Inc. engaged
Transplace to integrate multiple
enterprise resource planning (ERP)
systems into a centralized model aimed
at improving efficiency and optimizing
operations.
“Zep Inc. was looking to increase
its visibility across its supply chain and
selected Transplace due to our
engineering expertise, leadership in
TMS and technology solutions,” said

CHEMICAL BUSINESS WEEKLY

Vincent Chiodo, senior vice president,
Transplace. “Transplace worked directly
with Zep Inc. to complete a network
engineering analysis and capture
business intelligence data to help them
further collaborate, gain insight and
achieve cost savings through mode
optimization, while enhancing its
already high level of service to its
customers.”
Zep Inc., with fiscal year 2013
net sales of approximately $690
million, is a leading consumable
chemical packaged goods company
selling a wide variety of highperformance chemicals that help
professionals and prosumers clean,
maintain and protect their assets. The
company is focused on the attractive
industry dynamics of the transportation
market and the industrial maintenance
and repair operation ("MRO") market,
which together now comprise
approximately 60% of its revenue with
the balance derived from sales into the
facilities maintenance vertical. Zep
markets these products and services
under well recognized and established
brand names, such as Zep®, Zep
Commercial®, Zep Professional®,
Enforcer®, National Chemical™, Selig™,
Misty®, Next Dimension™, Petro®, iChem®, TimeMist®, TimeWick™,
MicrobeMax®, Country Vet®, Konk®,
Original Bike Spirits®, Blue Coral®,
Black Magic®, Rain-X®, Niagara
National™, FC Forward Chemicals®,
Rexodan®, Mykal™, and a number of
private label brands. Some of Zep Inc.'s
brands have been in existence since
1896.
Transplace is a non-asset, North
America-based third party logistics (3PL)
provider offering manufacturers,
retailers, chemical and consumer
packaged goods companies the optimal

blend of logistics technology and
transportation management services.
The company's services and
capabilities include Transportation
Management Services, Intermodal,
Brokerage and SaaS transportation
management (TMS) solutions
supplemented by supply chain network
planning and design, transportation
procurement and consulting services.
The company is recognized among the
elite global 3PLs for its proven ability to
deliver both rapid return on investment
and consistent value to a customer
base that includes many of the largest
shippers in the world.
NPXPRESS TECHNOLOGY : American
Water, the nation's largest publicly
traded water and wastewater utility
company, and Abengoa, an
international company that applies
innovative technology solutions for
sustainability in the energy and
environment sectors, recently signed a
worldwide licensing agreement for
American Water's patented NPXpress
technology. The agreement will enable
Abengoa to use NPXpress to achieve
wastewater treatment and nutrient
removal in a sustainable way. American
Water will retain all rights with respect
to its NPXpress technology. The
NPXpress technology helps wastewater
utilities, which are facing both
increasing operating costs and more
stringent environmental regulations, to
reduce costs while improving the
removal of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Because the technology operates at
lower oxygen levels, electricity
consumption for aeration can be
reduced by up to 50 percent. In
addition, the process can eliminate the
need for costly chemical addition
(methanol) by up to 80 to 100 percent.
This process provides a more

35

CHEMICAL MACHINERY ARTICLE
affordable and sustainable way of
treating sewage. NPXpress is patentprotected in 15 countries and the
EU.“This agreement is a perfect
example of innovation and
collaboration that helps address
challenges in the water industry,” said
Jeff Sterba, President and CEO,
American Water. “The NPXpress
technology has demonstrated
promising capabilities and we are
excited that others in the industry will
benefit from this innovative approach.”
“With our continuous commitment to
provide cutting-edge solutions to our
global clients, this agreement will
allows us to provide technology driven
at a lower energy footprint” said Carlos
Cosin, CEO of Abengoa Water. “Our
next generation of Membrane
BioReactor (“MBR”) plants will be more
energy efficient thanks to this global
partnership.” This is the first time
American Water has licensed an
internally generated technology
achieved through its Innovation
Development Process (IDP). American
Water's IDP program fills a vital need
to seek innovative, cost effective, and
sustainable solutions that can benefit
all water utilities. It combines research
and development, technical expertise,
and infrastructure assets with
innovations from both within American
Water and from external business
partners to create greater efficiencies
in the areas of drinking water and
wastewater. The IDP provides a conduit
for innovators to allow their
technologies to be evaluated and to
accelerate the adoption and market
penetration of products or services that
help solve pressing needs within the
water industry.
Founded in 1886, American
Water is the largest publicly traded
U.S. water and wastewater utility
company. With headquarters in

36

Voorhees, N.J., the company employs
approximately 6,600 dedicated
professionals who provide drinking
water, wastewater and other related
services to an estimated 14 million
people in more than 40 states and
parts of Canada. Abengoa applies
innovative technology solutions for
sustainability in the energy and
environment sectors, generating
electricity from renewable resources,
converting biomass into biofuels and
producing drinking water from sea
water.
NEW CHEMISTRY PLATFORM FOR
ADHESIVES, COATINGS AND INKS :
Sirrus, a manufacturer of highperformance monomers formerly known
as Bioformix, has successfully
developed a new chemistry platform that
promises to transform a range of
adhesive, coating, printing and resin
applications for the automotive, building
and construction, packaging, electronics
and other industries. Sirrus' unique 1,1disubstituted alkene monomer
technology, and the combination of
properties it enables, is now being
made available for sampling to
industrial manufacturing and assembly
partners.Launched under the trade
name Chemilian™, the monomers, when
formulated with other components,
facilitate a variety of game-changing
product and process improvements.
Chemilian-enabled adhesive, coatings
and inks do not require external energy
sources such as ovens or solvents to
activate, simplifying production and
saving money. They cure ambiently and
bond in minutes, saving time.
Formulations can be tuned to each
user's optimal working conditions. Plus,
Chemilian-based products can deliver
superior chemical and temperature
resistance, low odor, optical clarity and
no blooming, all while meeting the
demand for environmental suitability,

including reducing the need for building
block materials including bisphenol-A
(BPA), formaldehyde or styrene.
The ability to instantly bond
dissimilar materials from glass to
metals to polycarbonate, while
delivering superior performance and
durability, is what will interest many
potential Chemilian customers. “As a
step-change in technology, Chemilian is
an invitation to industrial customers of
all types to think about their assembly
and manufacturing processes in new
ways,” says Jeff Sullivan, Senior Vice
President of Research and Development
at Sirrus. “Imagine instantly adhering
many differing components with all the
requisite performance properties,
without ovens or solvent. These are the
kinds of possibilities that we hope to
explore with customers in industries as
diverse as building materials and
automotive coatings.” To this point,
chemists and engineers recognized the
great potential of 1,1-disubstituted
alkene monomers, but
commercialization has been
unsuccessful. The monomers can be
generated in a lab but bulk manufacture
has been unattainable due to
stabilization challenges. The Sirrus
team of process engineers and
synthetic chemists has developed a
process for large-scale, efficient
processing. Because of their chemical
structure, these monomers can be
tailored for a variety of properties to
suit a range of applications.Founded in
2009 and previously known as
Bioformix, Sirrus was formed to
commercialize efficient, highperformance monomers and
derivatives. Sirrus technologies allow
reduction or elimination of energy
consumption and improved product
performance in manufacturing,
decorating and assembly.